Foundations for Creativity in the Writing Process

Abstract

A creative act is usually defined as one that has a valuable or interesting product and that is in some way original or surprising (Hayes, 1981). However, whether we characterize a particular act as “creative” clearly depends on the context or circumstances in which it takes place. For example, we evaluate the creativity of a child’s drawing using different criteria from those we would apply to a painting by Monet; a creative act may be enriching to one individual or it may have earth-shaking consequences. Although creativity in writing is popularly associated with literary genres, other genres, such as expository writing, also offer opportunities for creative products. For example, a research report, a proposal, or a magazine article could be judged creative if it presents information in a new and valuable way to meet the needs and constraints of its audience and purpose—that is, if the text presents an innovative solution to a significant rhetorical problem.

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References

Ackerman, J. (in press). Students’ self-analyses and judges’ perception: Where do they agree? In L. Flower (Ed.), Reading-to-write: Exploring a cognitive and social process New York: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar